Frank Caliendo on Tweeting Whatever Pops Into Your Head: "If You Do That in Real Life, You Get Into Trouble"

Frank Caliendo stepped out of the small-stage spotlight, doing standup and impressions, and jumped into the small screen as a cast member on Fox's MADtv. Once America peeped his all-too-realistic John Madden impression, we got hooked on his comedy. TBS soon offered Caliendo his own program, Frank TV.

Though he's not a regular on television these days, he appeared as a guest on the Valerie Bertinelli and Betty White woman show Hot in Cleveland. His impressions have established him in the comedy world, but standup remains his passion, and after a stint in Vegas, Caliendo hit the road again. Before he heads to South Florida again for a few gigs, we chatted with the comic to learn about the man behind the voices.

New Times: You have cemented yourself as a

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master of many facets of comedy. Did you start out trying to make it in

standup or perfecting your impressions?

Frank Caliendo: I started out going to Comedy Sports Class. They

taught improv and team workshops. Then, when I was still in college, I

would always try out impressions on my friends and goof around. Someone

said, "Hey, you should try standup." I went up and tried it, and doing my

impressions onstage just kind of worked.

How do you feel about the television comedy shift from your standard

sitcom to more awkward and improvised comedies like The Office?

There are always trends for what's hot on television. Reality TV opened

the door for people seeing an awkward pause more regularly. It's more

like real life. Sitcoms tend to be more cookie cutter, but there is a

place for both types to succeed. Traditional sitcoms are making a

comeback now. My kids watch Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel

constantly, and those family-friendly channels have more and more

sitcoms, and the bigger networks seem to be getting more awkward. Let me

attention. I like people that do something different, like Lewis Black,

Dave Attell. I always look for the comics who created their own style

and that other people want to be like.

When you aren't on stage bringing the laughter, what kind of music do you like to listen to?

I don't get a chance to listen to a ton of music, being mostly busy on the

road and having to listen to what my kids like. But when I do get the

chance, I like those retro, weird, '80s bands like Dexy's Midnight

Runners. None of that new poppy music; I stick to classic rock and, you

know, the weird, goofy, older stuff.

You have definitely been a figure on the small screen but not the

most famous guy in the world. What kind of response do you get from

people who recognize you on the street?

People expect me to be a lot taller. Also, I lost 35 or 40 pounds

recently, so I have been getting a lot of: "Man, you are skinnier than I

thought!" When I walk through an airport before a gig, people start

chattering to each other, but they can't tell if it's me because I am

just a normal guy, no entourage or anything. I was at the grocery store

the other day, and by the time I was done, four people asked me if I was

me.

Do you enjoy South Florida when you come down to perform?

I always love coming down to Florida. I get the chance to see the

people I love that work down there at the Improv, and some of the great

South Florida radio guys like Paul Castronovo and Young Ron Brewer

really make it worth it. I'm heading down to do some shows at the Fort

Lauderdale Hollywood Improv, then as I am totally not a beach person, I

get to take my family to Disney and Universal Studios in Orlando. Next,

I come back to perform at the West Palm Beach Improv, so I have a

really nice trip to look forward to.

How do you handle being a part of the social media world?

Everyone follow me on Twitter! I always try to tweet back to anyone who reaches out. Twitter keeps me thinking. As soon as something pops in my head, I get to

tweet it, but if you do that in real life, you get into trouble.

Follow Frank on Twitter @FrankCaliendo! See the comic from July 20 to 22 at Fort Lauderdale Improv, 5700 Seminole Way, Hollywood, and from July 27 to 29 at West Palm Beach Improv, 550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach.

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